Two years of impact marking a lifelong commitment
UIA communities in both Victoria and New South Wales gathered for their AGMs and Report Back events, marking a clear post-ceasefire shift from emergency response to the long-term rebuilding of Israel both physically and emotionally.
Liat Shevach Dahan, Esther Frankiel and David Slade
In Melbourne, UIA Victoria President David Slade framed the moment simply but powerfully. As a grandson of Holocaust survivors, he spoke of a deep, personal stake in the future of the Jewish state. “I believe in our people’s future” he said, “I stood in Israel on and after October 7. I saw the hurt. I also saw the strength Jewish strength, Israeli strength, your strength. And I saw the impact we, Keren Hayesod-UIA, have had on the ground in Israel. President Rivlin once said ‘without Keren Hayesod-UIA, the state of Israel simply would not exist – plain and simple.’ I believe this to be true. As we leave the acute period of war, hear this clearly: UIA’s commitment for the People of Israel is for life. Through the rebuild. Into renewal. For as long as Israel needs us, we will be there.”
At the events, the core priorities were outlined that will guide UIA Australia’s allocations in the coming year: rebuilding the resilience of southern communities through Communities2Gether, scaling Shavim so trauma does not define a generation, expanding absorption capacity for the expected Aliyah wave, strengthening seniors’ safety and dignity through Amigour, and backing youth resilience through HaGal Sheli and other partner programs. It was stressed that all of this sits within Israel’s national priorities and is backed by data, people on the ground and measurable outcomes. “We know how to do this,” David Slade said. “We follow Israel’s needs, then we keep going.”
David Slade and Julian Black
In Sydney, UIA NSW President Gary Perlstein spoke just days after returning from one of his many trips to Israel since October 7. For the first time, he said, there was a sense that Israelis had “some space to breathe”. But the message he heard everywhere was blunt and familiar: “We Israelis don’t wallow in self-pity; we have no choice but to rebuild.” Perlstein told the audience he was moved by the sight of communities in the North and South picking up the pieces while still carrying deep trauma. “The country will rebuild physically because there is no other choice,” he said, “but the emotional scars will test everyone for a very long time to come.”
The events reported that since October 7, UIA Australia has been entrusted with more than $140 million, including $29.5 million from NSW and $18 million from Victoria in 2025.
Both presidents reminded attendees that UIA is “the only organisation in Australia raising funds for Israel that holds a seat at every table of decision-making mandated to rebuild the country from the North to the South,” and that every dollar is aligned with Israel’s official national priorities, backed by one of the most stringent systems of auditing and transparency in global philanthropy.
Guests at the events also heard from Israel’s acclaimed Channel 12 Arab Affairs correspondent Ohad Hemo, who has spent more than two decades reporting from Gaza and the West Bank and maintains rare access to senior figures in Hamas, Islamic Jihad and the Palestinian Authority. Hemo told the audience that 7 October was not just a terror attack, but a shock to Israel’s core story about itself as the strong, feared power of the region. At the same time, Hemo argued that the war has since reshaped regional perceptions in the opposite direction. Iran’s proxy network, including Hamas and Hezbollah, has been badly damaged, and Israel is again viewed as the single real military superpower in the Middle East. He also reminded the audience that many ordinary Gazans quietly despise Hamas and blame it for their suffering, but their voices are drowned out. The overall message was sobering but not despairing: Israel has paid a terrible price, but its deterrence and strategic position remain strong and can underpin the rebuild if supported wisely.
Bev Michaelis and Gary Perlstein
Outstanding service and leadership were recognised at both events. Long-time Women’s Division leader Bev Michaelis was honoured with the Max Freilich Award for Longstanding Service to Israel and the Jewish People, in recognition of her decades of tireless work.
In Victoria, outgoing Federal President Esther Frenkiel was honoured by UIA Regional Director Liat Shevach Dahan with a presentation of ‘The Key to Jerusalem’ award, in gratitude for her leadership during some of the most difficult years in Israel’s recent history. Outgoing Federal Treasurer Julian Black was recognised for 27 years of devoted service, with the announcement of a bursary in his name to send a young leader to Israel next year – a living legacy that will keep strengthening the bridge between Australian Jewry and the People of Israel.
The events carried a shared message. With the living hostages finally home and a ceasefire in place, the work has not ended; it has entered a new phase. From crisis to reconstruction. From sirens to long-term resilience. From emergency appeals to sustained investment in people, place and hope. As Slade summed it up in Melbourne: “For as long as Israel needs us, for as long as we call ourselves Am Yisrael, our commitment is For Life.”
